Alignment assembly

ABSTRACT

An alignment assembly for indicating the angle of incidence with respect to a workpiece including attachment means adapted to be attached to a device such as a portable hand drill. The assembly includes a central shaft interconnecting two balls. The ball at one end supports an input member for pivotal movement about the center of the ball while the ball at the other end supports an indicator member for pivotal movement about the center thereof. Three rods engage and interconnect the input member and the indicator member so that the indicator member pivots in response to pivotal movement of the input member. A female socket member having a spherical cavity supports the indicator member and a translucent dome is attached to the female member. A circular groove is disposed on the interior surface of the dome and a second circular groove is disposed on the spherical surface of the indicator member with the two circles being of equal diameter so that when they are in registry or concentric with one another the longitudinal axis of the assembly is perpendicular to a workpiece engaged by the input member.

United States Patent Jones Dec.26,1972

[54] ALIGNMENT ASSEMBLY 221 Filed: Jan. 12,1970

21 Appl.No.: 2,295

[52] U.S. Cl. ..33/l85 R, 33/1 N, 33/79 R, 33/172 B [51] Int. Cl ..B27g23/00 [58] Field of Search ..33/l74 Q, 84, 215 B, 79 R, 33/185 R, 172 B,169 C, 215 B, 1 N; 408/16,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,254,416 6/1966 Eisele..33/174 0 2,846,970 8/1958 Dupree ..1 16/129 2,898,880 8/1959 Newton..116/129 1,270,178 6/1918 Lehtinen 33/215 B 1,883,655 10/1932 Eskilson"33/215 B 2,700,224 1/1955 Johnson .33/174 Q 2,628,512 2/1953 Lankford..408/112 X 3,242,773 3/1966 Van Praag... ..408/16 2,677,193 5/1954Truppe "33/215 B FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 466,002 9/1928 Germany..33/169 C 136,856 12/1919 GreatBritain ..33/215B PrimaryExaminer-Robert B. Hul Attorney-McGlynn, Reising, Milton & Ethington[57] ABSTRACT An alignment assembly for indicating the angie ofincidence with respect to a workpiece including attachment means adaptedto be attached to a device such as a portable hand drill. The assemblyincludes a central shaft interconnecting two balls. The ball at one endsupports an input member for pivotal movement about the center of theball while the ball at the other end supports an indicator member forpivotal movement about the center thereof. Three rods engage andinterconnect the input member and the indicator member so that theindicator member pivots in response to pivotal movement of the inputmember. A female socket member having a spherical cavity sup- 7 portsthe indicator member and a translucent dome is 23 Claims, 7 DrawingFigures ALIGNMENT ASSEMBLY This invention relates to an alignmentassembly for indicating the angle of incidence with respect to aworkpiece. More specifically, the assembly has a longitudinal axis andindicates when the longitudinal axis is perpendicular to a workpiece.

Although the alignment assembly of the instant invention may be utilizedin various environments, it is particularly suited for use with aportable electric hand drill. In utilizing a drill press to drill a holein a workpiece, it is quite easy to drill a hole which is perpendicularto a surface of the workpiece. When using a portable hand drill,however, it is quite difficult to drill perpendicular holes into aworkpiece.

There are prior art alignment assemblies adapted for attachment to aportable drill for indicating when the drill is perpendicular to asurface of a workpiece. Examples of such prior art assemblies are shownin U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,407,845; 2,670,638 and 2,909,085. One of theproblems associated with the prior art assemblies is that the indicatormeans is frequently adjacent the workpiece and therefore difficult toview. Another problem is that the indicator means frequently obtains itsmovement from a point closely adjacent the workpiece so that themisalignment indication differs depending upon the position from whichit is viewed, i.e., there is a parallax problem.

Accordingly, it is an object and feature of this invention to provide animproved alignment assembly having a longitudinal axis for indicatingthe angle of incidence with respect to a workpiece which includessupport means, indicator means supported by the support means foruniversal type pivotal movement about a first point, input means adaptedthrough surface means defining a plane to engage a workpiece supportedby the support means for universal type pivotal movement about a secondpoint which is spaced along said axis from the first point, and motiontransmitting means for pivoting the indicator means about the firstpoint in response to pivotal movement of the input means about thesecond point.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will bereadily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by referenceto the following detailed description when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of theinstant invention in combination with a portable hand drill;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view of the preferredembodiment of the instant invention shown in the position in which itslongitudinal axis is perpendicular to a workpiece;

FIG. 3 is-an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view similar to FIG. 2but showing the assembly in the position in which its longitudinal axisis disposed at an angle other than 90 relative to a workpiece;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 44 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a view taken substantially along line 66 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional fragmentary view of the indicatormeans and the adjacent dome-like translucent member slightly separatedto show the circular grooves therein which respectively act as indiciameans.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, a preferred embodimentof the alignment assembly of the instant invention is generally shown at10. In FIG. 1 the alignment assembly 10 is shown attached to a portablehand drill generally indicated at 12. The alignment assembly 10indicates the angle of incidence with respect to the surface of aworkpiece so that when combined with a portable drill such as thatindicated in FIG. 1, an indication will be provided so that the drillcan be maintained perpendicular to a workpiece.

The alignment assembly 10 includes a support means generally indicatedat 14. Also included is an indicator means generally indicated at 16 andsupported by the support means 14 for universal type pivotal movementabout a first point. An input means generally indicated at 18 is adaptedby a front annular face or surface means 20 to engage a workpiece and issupported by the support means 14 for universal type pivotal movementabout a second point which is spaced from the first point about whichthe indicator means 16 pivots. The surface means 20 defines a planewhich is transverse at various angles to the longitudinal axis of theassembly as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3. There is also included motiontransmitting means comprising the three motion transmitting elements orrods 22 for pivoting the indicator means 16 about the first point inresponse to pivotal movement of the input means 18 about the secondpoint. The pivotal movement of the input means 18 can result fromengagement of the surface means 20 with a workpiece and movement thereofrelative to the longitudinal axis as when the longitudinal axis is movedinto and out of perpendicular relationship with the plane defined by thesurface means 20. Also included is the attachment means generallyindicated at 24. The attachment means 24 is adapted to be connected to adevice such as the portable drill l2 and movably supports the supportmeans 14 for allowing the support means 14, as well as the input means18 and the indicator means 16, to move longitudinally relative thereto.1

The attachment means 24 comprises a bracket having holes 26 therethroughso that fastening elements may extend therethrough to be secured to adevice, as illustrated the fastening elements are secured to the lugs 28on the hand drill 12 as indicated in FIG. 1. The bracket defining theattachment means includes first and second upstanding spaced andparallel flanges 30 and 32 respectively. The rods 22 extend through theflanges 30 and 32. Both of the flanges 30 and 32 have separate holestherethrough for each of the rods 22, however the rod holes in theflange 32 are tangent to a larger hole which accommodates the supportmeans 14. The first ends 34 of the rods 22 engage the indicator means 16and are equally spaced about the first point about which the indicatormeans 16 pivots. In a similar manner, the second ends 36 of the rods 22engage the input means 18 and are equally spaced about the second pointabout which the input means 18 pivots. In other words, the rods 22 arespaced apart about the longitudinal axis of the assembly 10.

IOBOIZ 002l therein for receiving and in which are disposed the firstends 34 of the rods 22. The input means 18 comprises a unitary memberand although not shown may also have three equally spaced recesses forreceiving the second ends 36 of the rods 22.

The support means 14 and the rods 22 are movable relative to the flanges30 and 32 of the attachment means 24 between a first positionillustrated in full lines in FIG. 1 and a second position illustrated inphantom in FIG. 1. There is included a biasing means comprising thespring 46 which reacts between the flange 30 of the attachment means 24and the support means 14 for urging the latter to the first position,which is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

The member 38 of the indicator means 16 includes a first socket 48. Thesupport means 14 includes an at least partially spherical first elementcomprising the ball 50. The ball 50 is disposed in the first socket 48andthe center of the ball 50 is the same as or coincident with the firstpoint about which the indicator means 16 pivots.

The input means or member 18 includes a second socket 52. The supportmeans 14 further includes an at least partially spherical second elementcomprising the ball 54 which is disposed in the second socket 52. Theball 54 has a center which is the same as or coincident with the secondpoint about which the input member 18 pivots.

The support means 18 further includes a female.

member 56 which has a spherical concave cavity 58 therein. The member 38of the indicator means 16 has a spherical surface in sliding engagementwith the concave cavity 58. Also, the female member 56 has passagesextending therethrough and each of the rods 22 extends through one ofthe passages in the female member 56 to engage the member 38.

A translucent means or member 60 is attached to the female member 56.The translucent or transparent member 60 is dome-shaped in that it has asemi-spherical end portion. The translucent member 60 has a concavespherical surface 62 which is disposed about the convex spherical member40 of the indicator means 16. I

As shown in FIG. 7, there is included a first indicia means comprising acircular groove 64 in the concave spherical surface 62 of thetranslucent member 60. Still referring to FIG. 7, themember 40 of theindicator means 16 includes a second indicia means comprising thecircular groove 66. The circular groove 66 is disposed closely adjacentand perhaps in sliding contact with the spherical surface 62 of thetranslucent member 60 for coacting with the circular groove 64 toindicate the angle of incidence or perpendicular relationship of thelongitudinal axis of the assembly with respect to a workpiece. Thecircular grooves 64 and 66 are of equal diameters. It will be noted thatthe concave spherical surface 62 has a center which coincides with thecenter of the ball 50 which is the same as the first point aboutwhichthe indicator means 16 pivots.

The support means 14 further includes a guide member comprising a headportion 68 and an elongated portion 70. The head portion 68 of the guidemember abuts the input member 18 and the spring 46 reacts between theflange 30 of the attachment means 24 and the head portion 68 of theguide member. The rods 22 pass through holes in the head portion 68 ofthe guide member. The spring 46 engages a first side of the flange 30 atone end thereof and extends through the second flange 32 and engages thehead portion 68 of the guide member at the other end to urge the femalemember 56 against the second side of the first flange 30. The elongatedportion 70 of the guide member extends through the parallel and spacedflanges 30 and 32 and engages the female member 56. The. spring 46 isdisposed about the elongated portion 70 of the guide member.

The support means 14 further includes a shaft or tie rod 72interconnecting the firs and second balls 50 and 54 and extends throughthe head portion 68 and elongated portion 70 of the guide members. Theshaft 72 extends through the balls 50 and 54 and has a head on one endengaging the ball 50 and a nut threadedly attached to the other end. Aspring 71 reacts between'the nut and the ball 54. The input member 18and the head 68 of the guide member are in mating engagement throughcoacting spherical surfaces and the shaft 72', the spring 71 and theballs 50 and 54 maintain the input member 18 in sliding engagement withthe head portion 68 of the guide member as well as maintaining themember 38 of the indicator means 16 in sliding engagement with theconcave spherical cavity 58.

There is also included positioning means interconnecting the elongatedportion 70 of the guide member and the first flange 30 for preventingrotation of the guide member. More specifically, the positioning meanscomprises a slot or groove 74 in the elongated portion 70 of the guidemember and a tab 76 extending from the first flange 30 and into the slot74. As the assembly is moved between the position illustrated in fulllines in FIG. 1 and the position illustrated in phantom in FIG. I, thetab 76 moves along the slot 74.

In operation, the alignment assembly 10 is attached to a device such asthe portable hand drill 12. The iongitudinal axis of the assembly 10passes through the centers of the balls 50 and 54 and is aligned withthe axis of the drill when the attachment means 24 is secured to thedrill 12. The flat surface 20 of the input member 18 is placed againstthe flat surface of a workpiece and the hand drill l2 manipulated untilthe circular grooves 64 and 66 overlap one another as shown in FIG. 5 sothat there appears to be only one circle. In this position, thelongitudinal axis of the alignment assembly 10 is perpendicular to theworkpiece and the axis of the drill is perpendicular to the workpiece.As.

the drill enters the workpiece in drilling a hole, the circular grooves64 and 66 are maintained in registry and in a concentric relationship asshown in FIG. 5 to maintain the drill perpendicular to the surface ofthe workpiece. As the drill enters the workpiece to form a hole therein,the input member 18 reacts against the head portion 68 of the guidemember to move the elongated portion 70 thereof rearwardly against thebiasing action of the spring 46 through the flanges 30 nd 32-. Duringthis movement, the female member 56 moves rearwardly away from the firstflange 30 to the position illustrated in phantom in FIG. 1. Also, duringthis movement the rods 22 move rearwardly through the first and secondflanges 30 and 32. The coaction between the tab 76 and the slot 74prevents rotation of the guide member. In the event the longitudinalaxis of the assembly is not perpendicular to the workpiece, the inputmember 18 will be pivoted to a position similar to that shown in FIG. 3so that the circular grooves 64 and 66 are not concentric as illustratedin FIG. 6.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is tobe understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to bein the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An alignment assembly for indicating the angle of incidence withrespect to the planar surface of a workpiece, said assembly comprising;support means, indicator means supported by said support means foruniversal type pivotal movement about a first point, input means adaptedto engage a workpiece and supported by said support means for universaltype pivotal movement about a second point which is spaced from saidfirst point said assembly having a longitudinal axis, said first andsecond points being disposed on said axis, said input means includingsurface means defining a plane for engaging said planar surface of theworkpiece and of substantial breadth whereby to assume in response tosaid engagement a conforming relation to said planar surface, said planebeing transverse to said axis, and movable with said pivotal movement tovarious angles relative thereto, and motion transmitting means forpivoting said indicator means about said first point in response topivotal movement of said input means about said second point resultingfrom engagement of said surface means with a workpiece and movementthereof relative to said longitudinal axis as when said longitudinalaxis is moved into and out of perpendicular relationship with saidplane.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including attachment meansoperatively connected to said'support means and adapted for attachmentto a device.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including translucent meansattached to said support means, said translucent means having a concavespherical surface disposed about said indicator means, first indiciameans on said spherical surface, said indicator means including secondindicia means adjacent said spherical surface for coacting with saidfirst indicia means to indicate said angle of incidence.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first point is thecenter of said spherical surface.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including attachment meansadapted to be connected to a device and movably supporting said supportmeans and guiding said support means and at least said input means intranslative movement relative thereto whereby the device may move towardand away from the workpiece.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said motion transmittingmeans includes at least three motion transmitting elements with firstends thereof equally spaced about said first point and engaging saidindicator means and with second ends thereof equally spaced about saidsecond point and engaging said input means.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 including attachment meansadapted to be connected to a device and translatively movably supportingsaid support means and said motion transmitting elements whereby thedevice may move toward and away from the workpiece.

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein each of said motiontransmitting elements comprise a rod, said rods being equally spacedabout said longitudinal axis.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 including translucent meansattached to said support means, said translucent means having a concavespherical surface disposed about said indicator means,- first indiciameans on said spherical surface, said indicator means including secondindicia means adjacent said spherical surface for coacting with saidfirst indicia means to indicate said angle of incidence.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said first point is thecenter of said spherical surface.

11. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said support means andsaid rods are movable relative to said attachment means between firstand second positions, and including biasing means reacting between saidattachment means and said support means for urging the latter to saidfirst position.

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 1 wherein said indicator meansincludes a first socket means, said input means includes a second socketmeans, said support means includes an at least partially spherical firstelement disposed in said first socket means, the spherical surface ofsaid first element having a center coincident with said first point,said support means includes an at least partially spherical secondelement disposed in said second socket means, the spherical surfaceofsaid second element having a center coincident with said second point.

13. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said support meansincludes a female member having a spherical concave cavity therein, saidindicator means has a spherical surface in sliding engagement with saidcavity, said female member has passages therethrough, each of said rodsextend through one of said passages and engage said indicator means,said translucent means being attached to said female member.

14. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said support meansfurther includes a guide member abutting said input means, said biasingmeans being disposed to react between said attachment means and saidguide member.

15. An assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said attachment meansincludes a pair of parallel and spaced first and second flanges, saidrods extend through said flanges, said biasing means includes at leastone spring engaging a first side of said first flange at one end andextending through said second flange and engaging said guide member atthe other end to urge said female member against'the second side of saidfirst flange.

16. An assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said input means andsaid guide member are in mating engagement through coacting sphericalsurfaces.

17. An assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein said guide memberincludes an enlarged head portion engaging said input means and anelongated portion extending through said first and second flanges andengaging said female member.

18. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said spring is disposedabout said elongated portion and en- 21. An assembly as set forth inclaim 20 wherein said positioning means comprises a slot extending alongsaid elongated portion of said guide member and a tab extending fromsaid first flange and into said slot.

22. An assembly as set forth in claim 20 wherein said first and secondelements are balls and said shaft extends through said balls, said firstindicia means com prises a circular groove in said concave sphericalsurface of said translucent means and said second indicia meanscomprises a circular groove in said indicator means, said circulargrooves being of equal diameter.

23. An assembly as set forth in claim 22 wherein said indicator meanshas recesses therein for receiving said first ends of said rods.

1. An alignment assembly for indicating the angle of incidence withrespect to the planar surface of a workpiece, said assembly comprising;support means, indicator means supported by said support means foruniversal type pivotal movement about a first point, input means adaptedto engage a workpiece and supported by said support means for universaltype pivotal movement about a second point which is spaced from saidfirst point said assembly having a longitudinal axis, said first andsecond points being disposed on said axis, said input means includingsurface means defining a plane for engaging said planar surface of theworkpiece and of substantial breadth whereby to assume in response tosaid engagement a conforming relation to said planar surface, said planebeing transverse to said axis, and movable with said pivotal movement tovarious angles relative thereto, and motion transmitting means forpivoting said indicator means about said first point in response topivotal movement of said input means about said second point resultingfrom engagement of said surface means with a workpiece and movementthereof relative to said longitudinal axis as when said longitudinalaxis is moved into and out of perpendicular relationship with saidplane.
 2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including attachment meansoperatively connected to said support means and adapted for attachmentto a device.
 3. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 includingtranslucent means attached to said support means, said translucent meanshaving a concave spherical surface disposed about said indicator means,first indicia means on said spherical surface, said indicator meansincluding second indicia means adjacent said spherical surface forcoacting with said first indicia means to indicate said angle ofincidence.
 4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said firstpoint is the center of said spherical surface.
 5. An assembly as setforth in claim 1 including attachment means adapted to be connected to adevice and movably supporting said support means and guiding saidsupport means and at least said input means in translative movementrelative thereto whereby the device may move toward and away from theworkpiece.
 6. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said motiontransmitting means includes at least three motion transmitting elementswith first ends thereof equally spaced about said first point andengaging said indicator means and with second ends thereof equallyspaced about said second point and engaging said input means.
 7. Anassembly as set forth in claim 6 including attachment means adapted tobe connected to a device and translatively movably supporting saidsupport means and said motion transmitting elements whereby the devicemay move toward and away from the workpiece.
 8. An assembly as set forthin claim 7 wherein each of said motion transmitting elements comprise arod, said rods being equally spaced about said longitudinal axis.
 9. Anassembly as set forth in claim 8 including translucent means attached tosaid support means, said translucent means having a concave sphericalsurface disposed about said indicator means, first indicia means on saidspherical surface, said indicator means including second indicia meansadjacent said spherical surface for coacting with said first indiciameans to indicate said angle of incidence.
 10. An assembly as set forthin claim 9 wherein said first point is the center of said sphericalsurface.
 11. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said supportmeans and said rods are movable relative to said attachment meansbetween first and second positions, and including biasing means reactingbetween said attachment means and said support means for urging thelatter to said first position.
 12. An assembly as set forth in claim 11wherein said indicatoR means includes a first socket means, said inputmeans includes a second socket means, said support means includes an atleast partially spherical first element disposed in said first socketmeans, the spherical surface of said first element having a centercoincident with said first point, said support means includes an atleast partially spherical second element disposed in said second socketmeans, the spherical surface of said second element having a centercoincident with said second point.
 13. An assembly as set forth in claim12 wherein said support means includes a female member having aspherical concave cavity therein, said indicator means has a sphericalsurface in sliding engagement with said cavity, said female member haspassages therethrough, each of said rods extend through one of saidpassages and engage said indicator means, said translucent means beingattached to said female member.
 14. An assembly as set forth in claim 13wherein said support means further includes a guide member abutting saidinput means, said biasing means being disposed to react between saidattachment means and said guide member.
 15. An assembly as set forth inclaim 14 wherein said attachment means includes a pair of parallel andspaced first and second flanges, said rods extend through said flanges,said biasing means includes at least one spring engaging a first side ofsaid first flange at one end and extending through said second flangeand engaging said guide member at the other end to urge said femalemember against the second side of said first flange.
 16. An assembly asset forth in claim 15 wherein said input means and said guide member arein mating engagement through coacting spherical surfaces.
 17. Anassembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein said guide member includes anenlarged head portion engaging said input means and an elongated portionextending through said first and second flanges and engaging said femalemember.
 18. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said spring isdisposed about said elongated portion and engages said head portion. 19.An assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said support means includesa shaft interconnecting said first and second elements and extendingthrough said head and elongated portions of said guide member.
 20. Anassembly as set forth in claim 19 including positioning meansinterconnecting said elongated portion of said guide member and saidfirst flange for preventing rotation of said guide member.
 21. Anassembly as set forth in claim 20 wherein said positioning meanscomprises a slot extending along said elongated portion of said guidemember and a tab extending from said first flange and into said slot.22. An assembly as set forth in claim 20 wherein said first and secondelements are balls and said shaft extends through said balls, said firstindicia means comprises a circular groove in said concave sphericalsurface of said translucent means and said second indicia meanscomprises a circular groove in said indicator means, said circulargrooves being of equal diameter.
 23. An assembly as set forth in claim22 wherein said indicator means has recesses therein for receiving saidfirst ends of said rods.